Day trips around Portland with the family?

Fellow PDX’ers: any ideas for day trips within 1-2 hrs that little kids will enjoy? Most of our usual spots are closed or fit into the “not a good idea” category.

Thanks

 

https://www.co.washington.or.us/Support_Services/Facilities/Parks/Hagglake/
Take em out to Hagg Lake and put a fishin' pole in their hands.

 

I think the big question is east side or west? Also, are you looking for off roading or just finding some outdoors? I've been having a blast on the east side this spring. We have a kiddo and have been very successful having low key outdoors adventure (not proper off roading).

So, which way out of Portland is easiest for you to drive and what type of activity you want?

 

We live between west linn and tualatin so easy access to i-5 or 205 and outward from there. Definitely not offroading, just finding some outdoors as you refer to with a destinateion that the kids will like.

 

Get on 205, then 224 and head up past Estacada and find a nice spot on the Clackamas River. Should be less than an hour drive. Continue up 224 till it splits at 57/46 take 46 then right on 63 and find a nice spot on the Collawash River. 57 will take you on the back side of Timothy lake. This image is on the Clackamas.

 

Absolutely second this suggestion. A great starting point for random exploration is taking 224 past Estacada to Ripplebrook. From there you can go just about any direction to find something. As above, following the Collawash is nice. Just pull up a map and start looking at peaks, lakes and rivers. You can even make some larger loops like going up past Timothy Lake and down Hwy 26 into Sandy, or following 46 all the way down to Detroit Lake and then going back down to I-5 to get home.

EDIT: We recently stopped at Harriet Lake to do a bit of fishing. There were some people around but it was still very nice. We attempted to get to Hideaway lake but the snow was still a bit deep up near the lake (I bet by this weekend it is passable).

 

Great suggestions!